This can be a trying time to live in and love Tucson.

The state treats us like a red-headed stepchild; the FBI is called in on the Rio Nuevo debacle; no one’s really interested in running for mayor; months after our beloved congresswoman and other wonderful denizens get shot, we have to fret about college kids packing heat, and the commensurate brain-drain that could have led to (but we dodged that one; thanks, Jan). And this doesn’t even factor in the challenge of living within this state, with its rogue legislation that makes Arizona the focus of the nation—for all the wrong reasons.

Did I mention our county has put secession on the table?

Alas, as I wind down my first decade of living in Ye Olde Pueblo, I find more to love now than ever before. Been to downtown’s Hub Restaurant and Creamery yet? Been downtown, period? You may feel like you’re witnessing a revival of the first order—and you are. This isn’t some civic mandate or an urban-planned vision. It is the workings of small businesses and right-minded developers coming together. The gravy is in the maneuvers being made by the UA to offer student housing and bring academic departments downtown. The light rail that will connect these two vibrant points is looking less like a folly and more like an essential link.

I’ve met a plethora of good souls in this desert patch, some who have made exodus for greener pastures, some who have stayed to grow roots here. The trees are now bearing fruits of those who remained planted in Tucson. Kudos.

It’s nice to remind myself of all the little things that add up in this calculus of contentment, from the amazing bands I’ve seen at our incredible venues to the motorbike rides into the desert sunsets, or the times I’ve hunkered down during a monster monsoon, torched up my wood stove during chilly winter nights, commuted on my fixed-gear in 100-plus-degree weather, or almost hugged a saguaro on any number of gorgeous hikes.

What I haven’t done is sit in traffic—and I don’t mean waiting two cycles for a green light on Grant Road. That’s not traffic. (I just got back from a harrowing motorcycle trip to Los Angeles and Oakland; trust me.) I haven’t had to deal with four-hour waits at the Motor Vehicle Division; my last visit there was done in 20 minutes, and a woman with a clipboard came to the line to see if she could expedite things. Aside from rural towns, where does that happen these days?

I haven’t had to do many things that one does in big cities—and therein lies the tradeoff that forms the balance. It’s only when you strip away the urge to compare Tucson to a San Francisco, when you view Tucson on its own terms, that the shine really turns on. We may not have the sizable creative class of Austin, but we have a damn creative community of musicians, artists, writers and thinkers. We have badass motorcycle riders who escort their wounded congresswoman to the airport. Selfless citizens who would protect the funeral procession of a young girl by spreading wings. Bells that hang on trees, cashiers at Trader Joe’s who know me by name and an emergency-room doctor who called me to check up on me after my discharge. (Thanks, Keith; I’m doing great.)

Yes, I heart this big small town, and the more people who confess their love, the more Tucson will soar in the face of tough times. This year’s young basketball team and coach is a perfect metaphor: You’d have been a lunatic to suggest an Elite Eight run at the season’s outset, yet by flying under the radar and focusing on fundamental teamwork, magic happened. The same thing may be happening in this Sonoran settlement as a whole.

This article appears in May 5-11, 2011.

12 replies on “Guest Commentary”

  1. You have very low requirements. Most people want more than a restaurant/creamery and cashiers at Trader Joe’s who know their name. Tucson is a dirty, ugly town, a little piece of hell.
    But if you are looking for an attractive condo in a gated community in the Foothills, please contact me. I will sell cheap. I will even include the custom furniture.
    I give Tucson Weekly permission to put you in contact with me.
    Ask for Jesse

  2. TXJesse, it’s a shame you have such a narrow view of Tucson. There are innumerable great things about the place.

  3. Up until recently, we were looking for a home in either the Vail, Tanque Verde, and Foothills areas. They have the best school scores. We have no dependents, but here on the east coast, people look for homes that have the best schools. Unfortunately the news coming out of the Tucson area is discouraging even to Democrats like us from the blue state of MD. I read recently in the AZ Daily Star that Foothills is losing population. I’m not surprised. Thanks to national TV and the newspapers, we are well aware of the problems that Tucson and Pima County have. We feel that we have had a lucky escape. What if we had bought a home on one of our last trips to Pima County. We’d be stuck. We have friends who bought a home at Dove Mtn. Let’s see how long they live there before throwing in the towel. When we visited them last fall, they were already complaining about the problems that they were encountering. It really pays to read the local paper before you buy a house in the area.

  4. I could not agree with Ari more. You other ignoramouses have never lived in pure D Hell…. I moved here in 09 after barely surviving 30 years in Dallas Pure D Hell aka Dallas in Denial. Where instead of a Fire department that rushes out to help even the lesser citizens as well as the greater ones… you are on your own. Stabbed in the head… too bad, get over it. Shot? overdosed? Hope your friends better hope your friends try to get rid of you by tossing you out at the ramp of the emergency at Parkland. I have waited 12 hours to see a Dr there, finally just went back home and set my own foot.

    This town is awesome… people here do remember my name, help me with issues I am not used to. And best of all I got into the social system here, and found real help with Primavera foundation, when my girlfriend over here started her insanity and I was forced to move out or endure more of her wrath. I have received, La Frontera Counseling, all kinds of services and as well a monthly food stamp assistance. I live in the heart of 4th Ave. and you are right… so many musicians I have never seen in one place in my life. All kinds of street fairs, event after event, and real community coming together in safe and fun outings… In Dallas gangs are out patrolling the police and even going to the State Fair is a very dangerous game of survival.

    So I for one want to say Thank You to Tucson and the ones of you here who have been great to me. Okay I drive a wild car. Not one person has been disrespectful of the art on it and in turn I get lots of thumbs up. I look forward to doing anything I can to give back to Tucson wherever my expertise is useable.

    Blessings to the Tucson Weekly also…. I have a special reason for saying that – but your reporting is entertaining as well as very informative.

    Is there another paper in town?

  5. Thank you Ari you said it well however I must point out a few things:

    The building your business is housed is 1 north 5th. That is the same building that used to be city owned public housing, but thanks to securing multiple grants that worthless old city built new housing that allowed your building to be renovated for private housing and commercial uses.

    Without the City accomplished recreation of scott avenue and streetscape improvements, without the facade grants the city provided for facade, paint and awning renovations Providence never would have moved their headquarters downtown to the building they did. Fletcher caught the fever and then started investing himself.

    Before there was Xoom Juice and any others, Madden Media first jumped in downtown through a development agreement with – yes that worthless old city – to buy a city owned historic building and the city provided dedicated parking as part of the deal for them to renovate the macarthur bldg (which they did fabulously) and move their headquarters downtown.

    Before that the City secured funds to rebuild the 4th avenue underpass and renovate the historic train depot which is where Maynards is now located.

    Whatever you think of rio nuevo it sunk millions into renovating the rialto and the fox (which would have been a blight in the middle of congress had it not been renovated).

    At least give a little credit where credit is due. The city has literally almost killed itself to renovate downtown and all they got in return is a bunch of dismissive people who think they did all the work.

  6. to on the money: you make great points, and credit should indeed be given in these instances. i was certainly not trying to be dismissive of the city’s farsighted moves, and i give props to all the early adapters, madden, maynards etc.

    i was simply pointing out that the dominoes falling currently may be small, but are meaningful.

    -ari

  7. It’s an awesome commentary Ari, maybe the love will spread. I work downtown and come downtown various times to enjoy events and spend time in the restaurants, children’s museum, La Placita movies, 4th avenue…the list goes on and on….If you haven’t been downtown lately, I highly suggest you do. Contrary to legend, there is parking downtown, it isn’t that big of nightmare to navigate the streets. And, I didn’t get paid to say any of this, it’s just true. I wish nothing but the best for anyone investing in their city.

  8. hey thanks for responding ari. all the businesses that made the leap of faith into downtown deserve massive props for without them none of the other investments would have had the impact necessary to bring downtown to life.

  12. For those folks who wanted to live in the foothills and now are pleased they didn’t move here; and those who live out at Dove mountain (for who knows how long), you haven’t experienced Tucson. You’ve experienced the suburbs which, for me, are just plain out of town and out of Tucson. Once you live in the heart of Tucson, where everything is available to you within a 5 mile radius, and where you build friendships with your local businesses and neighbors, even someone like I, who misses the sleepy Tucson of the 70s, has to admit this is a great place and looks to be headed in the right direction by creating a downtown that we all will be able to enjoy.

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